Apparatus for conveying untreated materials

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for conveying untreated materials includes a unit conveyor (25), and a collective conveyor (33). The unit conveyor (25) is constituted of a carriage (19) operated so as to move along a treatment line (1) composed of a plurality of treatment vessels arranged in a row, and carriers (16) provided so that they are moved vertically by the carriage (19) so as to lift and lower from and into the interior of a treatment vessel, while the collective conveyor (33) is constituted of elevator frames (26) provided along the treatment line (1) within the zone of movement of the carriage (19), lifting gears (27) adapted to move the elevator frames (26) in the vertical direction, and supports (28) which are provided on the elevator frames (26) respectively so as to be moved in the direction of the treatment line (1) and which are adapted to support the untreated materials (15). The unit conveyor (25) is adapted to convey the untreated materials ( 15) placed in a single treatment vessel collectively to another arbitrary treatment vessel, and the collective conveyor (33) to convey the materials (15) placed in a plurality of treatment vessels collectively to a plurality of subsequent treatment vessels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying untreatedmaterials, wherein the untreated materials are conveyed from a treatingsection to another in an electroplating system, a painting system or thelike including a row of treating sections into which the untreatedmaterials are conveyed in turn to be treated in a given treating manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Apparatus of the above-mentioned type have been used, for example, toconvey materials or workpieces to be electroplated in turn inelectroplating workshops. As well known, the electroplating treatmentincludes many treating steps performed in sequence. Accordingly, thematerials to be electroplated are conveyed by a conveying apparatus fromeach treating section to another in turn. Such conveying apparatus ofthe elevator type is known. In the elevator type conveying apparatus,the materials are hung on carrier bars bridged over opposite edges oftreating tubs and lowered into the treating tubs. A pair of elevatorframes are provided on opposite sides of the treating tubs along thetreatment line. The elevator frames are movable vertically, and whenmoved upwardly, the elevator frames are adapted to lift both ends ofeach carrier bar, thereby carrying the materials out of the treatingtubs. A part of each elevator frame supporting the carrier bars ismovable transversely (or along the treatment line) and movedtransversely with the materials carried out of the treating tubs so thatthe materials are conveyed to areas over the subsequent treating tubs,thereby lowering the materials into the treating tubs.

According to the above-described elevator type apparatus, when theelevator frames are operated at one operation cycle of upward,transverse, and downward movements, all the materials placed in the zoneof movement of the elevator frames are collectively conveyed. Therefore,the elevator type conveying apparatus has a high conveyance efficiencyand is suitable for mass production of a few kinds of workpieces. Theelevator type conveying apparatus, however, has the followingdisadvantages. First, since a feed pitch of each elevator frame isconstant at any position, the treating tub for treatment requiring along period of time is necessarily rendered large-sized in proportion tothe treating period, resulting in a large-scaled treatment line. Forexample, when the electrolytic degreasing, acid pickling, andelectroplating require 10 seconds, 20 seconds, and 10 minutes (600seconds), respectively, the length of the acid pickling tub in thedirection that the materials are conveyed takes the value of 1 meter,and that of the electroplating tub the value of 30 meters when that ofthe electrolytic degreasing tub takes the value of 50 centimeters.Secondly, it is rather difficult to omit or skip over a part of thetreating steps depending on the materials to be treated. Even if some ofthe treating steps can be omitted or skipped over, the production periodof time cannot be shortened since the materials are conveyed at a givenpitch.

On the other hand, a carrier type conveying apparatus, which is quitedifferent from the foregoing elevator type, has been commerciallyproduced. Travelling rails are provided over the treatment line, and acarrier is movable along the rails to any position. The carrier is movedfrom one treating tub to an area over a next treating tub with thematerials hung on the carrier, thereby lowering them into the treatingtub.

According to the carrier type conveying apparatus, the materials may beconveyed to and placed in any treating tub :or any period of time. As aresult, a plurality of kinds of materials having different treatingsteps may be conveyed. Furthermore, the length of the treatment line maybe shortened. However, since a unit of materials need to be alwaysconveyed, the conveyance efficiency is reduced, resulting in reductionof the productivity thereof.

As described above, the conventional elevator type conveying apparatuscauses the treatment line to become large-scaled, while it is superiorin the conveyance efficiency. Furthermore, it has a disadvantage oflacking adaptability in combination of the treating steps.

Although the carrier type conveying apparatus is superior in theshortening of the treatment line and the adaptability in combination ofthe treating steps, it is inferior in the conveyance efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for conveying untreated materials, which has an eminentconveyance efficiency and which is capable of shortening the treatmentline, and wherein the combination of the treating steps may be changedwith ease.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forconveying untreated materials, wherein the treating period of time maybe shortened.

In order to achieve the primary object, the apparatus for conveyinguntreated materials in accordance with a first aspect of this inventioncomprises a unit conveyor means movably provided along a treatment lineincluding a plurality of treating sections arranged in a row, the unitconveyor means being moved from one of the treating sections to anotherso that a unit of untreated materials is lifted and lowered from andinto the treating section, and a collective conveyor means movablyprovided along the treatment line, the collective conveyor means beingmoved so that the untreated materials located at a plurality of treatingsections are collectively lifted from said plurality of treatingsections and lowered into a plurality of subsequent treating sections,the collective conveyor means having a zone of movement thereofoverlapped with a zone of movement of the unit conveyor means over aplurality of treating sections along the treatment line.

According to the above-described conveying apparatus, the unit orcollective conveyor means may be selected in the area in which themovement zones of the unit and collective conveyor means are overlapped,in accordance with treating steps to be required. For example, when oneor more of the predetermined treating steps are to be omitted or skippedover, the materials are conveyed by the unit conveyor means with thetreating sections corresponding to the treating steps to be skipped overpassed. When the treating steps are not to be skipped over, thematerials are efficiently conveyed by the collective conveyor means.

In order to achieve the second object, the apparatus for conveyinguntreated materials in accordance with a second aspect of this inventioncomprises a collective conveyor means for conveying untreated materialsalong a treatment line including a plurality of treating sectionsarranged in a row, the treating sections including a plurality of waterwashing sections continuously disposed, the collective conveyor meansreiterating an operation cycle of (A) lifting the untreated materialsplaced in the treating sections, the untreated materials being supportedby support members, (B) conveying the untreated materials along thetreatment line, and (0) lowering the untreated materials into subsequenttreating sections, thereby returning to an initial position thereof, oneof the support members corresponding to the treating sections except thewater washing sections being reciprocally moved between a supportposition at which the untreated materials are supported and a supportevasion position at which the untreated materials are not supported sothat the position of the support members is changed at every one cycleof the collective conveyor means.

According to the apparatus in accordance with the second aspect of theinvention, when the collective conveyor means is operated with thesupport members set at the support position, all the untreated materialslocated at all the treating sections are conveyed by one pitch tothereby feed the untreated materials to the respective next treatingsections. When the collective conveyor means is operated with thesupport members set at the support evasion position, only the untreatedmaterials located at the water washing sections are conveyed to therespective next treating sections, and the untreated materials locatedat the other treating sections are not conveyed. Consequently, the timeperiod required for the water washing may be shortened as compared withthe period of the other treating operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of the treatment line employed in a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the treatment line shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hook arm;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged side view of the collective conveyormeans;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a feed pitch changing means;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the feed pitch changing means;

FIG. 7 shows relationship between the treating steps and the conveyancesystem in the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified form of thecollective conveyor means as a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a further modified form of thecollective conveyor means as a third embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a partial side view of the treatment line employed in thefourth embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a movable plate;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section of the treatment line;

FIG. 13 is a partial enlarged side view of the collective conveyormeans;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the movable plate;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the movable plate as seen in the direction ofline B--B in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the movable plate as seen in the direction ofline C--C in FIG. 14;

FIGS. 17(a) to 17(e) represent a schematic illustration of an untreatedmaterial conveying process of the collective conveyor means in its oneoperation cycle;

FIGS. 18(a) to 18(e) represent a schematic illustration of an untreatedmaterial conveying process of the collective conveyor means in anotheroperation cycle;

FIG. 19 illustrates treating steps of the treatment line; and

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing a modified form of thechangeover means employed in the apparatus of a fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of the embodiments, the apparatus forconveying untreated materials in accordance with the present inventionis applied to a conveyor for conveying materials to be electroplated inan electroplating workshop. A first embodiment will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a part of atreatment line 1 employed in the embodiment. Reference numerals 2-14indicate treating tubs as treating sections. These treating tubs areemployed for, in turn, the electrolytic degreasing, water washing, waterwashing, water washing, acid pickling, water washing, water washing,soft etching, water spray washing, water spray washing, acid pickling,water washing, and water washing, respectively. Practically, furtherelectroplating and water washing tubs (neither shown) follow the waterwashing tub 14. The treating tubs 2-14 constitute the treatment line 1together with these tubs. Workpieces 15 to be electroplated, asuntreated materials, are hung on carrier bars 16 bridged over oppositeedges of a treating tub, as shown in FIG. 2. Both ends of each carrierbar 16 are received by grooves (not shown) of carrier bar insulators 17extending along opposite sides of all the treating tubs so that theworkpieces 15 are placed in the treating tub.

Reference numeral 18 indicates a pair of rails extending along thetreatment line 1 thereover. A carriage 19 is provided with wheels 20rolling on the rails 18 and self-moving means (not shown) so that thecarriage 19 is moved along the rails 18. A carrier elevator 21 is hungon the carriage 19 through chains 22. When drive means (not shown)disposed in the carriage 19 is operated, the carrier elevator 21 ismoved between an upper limit position shown by solid line in FIG. 2 anda lower limit position shown by alternate long and two short dashes linein FIG. 2. The carrier elevator 21 may be vertically guided by a pair ofguide rails provided on opposite sides of the carriage 19. Three pairsof hook arms 23, for example, are mounted on opposite sides of thecarrier elevator 21. Carrier hooks 24 are provided on both inner sidesof the lower end of each hook arm 23, as shown in FIG. 3. Lowering pitchchanging means (not shown) is provided in the carrier elevator 21 sothat a pitch among the hook arms 23 and hence, among the workpieces 15may be changed. The carriage 19, carrier elevator 21, and their relatedmechanism constitute a unit conveyor means 25 in the present invention.In the condition that the carrier elevator 21 is at the lower limitposition, the carriage 19 is moved to a position of a predeterminedtreating tub and subsequently, the carrier elevator 21 is moved up tothe upper limit position, thereby both ends of each carrier bar 16 ishooked by the carrier hooks 24 to thereby lift a unit of workpieces 15,for example, three workpieces, out of the treating tub. Further in theabove-mentioned condition, the carriage 19 is moved to be located over anext treating tub for execution of a next treating step. The carrierelevator 21 is then moved down to the lower limit position such thatboth ends of each carrier bar 16 is received by the grooves of thecarrier bar insulators 17 to thereby position the workpieces 16 in thetreating tub. A zone of movement of the unit conveyor means 25, that is,an area along which the rails 18 are extended covers a whole area of thetreatment line 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, elevator frames 26 are provided at both sides ofpredetermined treating tubs so as to be positioned outside the carrierbar insulators 17. The elevator frames 26 are moved by lifting gearmeans 27 provided outside the insulators 17 so as to be moved between alower limit position shown by solid line and an upper limit positionshown by alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 1. A pluralityof slide blocks 28 are provided so as to be movable along the elevatorframes 26. As shown in FIG. 4, each slide block 28 has, for example,three bar supports 29 formed on the upper face thereof and a rack 28aformed on the lower face thereof. Drive sprockets 30 are mounted on theelevator frames 26 so as to correspond to the slide blocks 28 and to bein mesh engagement with the racks 28a. The drive sprockets 30 arerotated by a predetermined angle to move the slide blocks 28 along theelevator frames 26. Each drive sprocket 30 is provided with two coaxialfollower sprockets 31 (one of them is shown in FIG. 4). A chain 32 isprovided between the follower sprockets 31. When drive force from a feedgear (not shown) is transmitted to one of the follower sprockets 31, thedrive force is further transmitted to the other follower sprockets 31through the chain 32, The elevator frames 26, slide blocks 28 drivesprockets 30, follower sprockets 31, chain 32, feed gear, and theirrelated mechanism constitute a collective conveyor means 33 in thepresent invention. In the collective conveyor means 33, when theelevator frames 26 are moved upwardly from the lower limit position,both ends of all the carrier bars 16 located in the elevator framemoving area are hooked by the bar supports 29 of the slide blocks 28,thereby lifting the carrier bars 16 and hence the workpieces 15 alltogether. Subsequently, when the elevator frames 26 reach the upperlimit position, the chain 32 is driven to thereby feed the slide blocks28 and hence the workpieces 15 to the next treating step sides. Theelevator frames 26 are then mowed to the lower limit position again, andthe carrier bars 16 are received by the carrier bar insulators 17 tothereby position the workpieces 15 in the treating tubs. The zone ofmovement of the collective conveyor means 33, that is, the arrangementarea along which the elevator frames 26 are moved covers an area fromthe treating tub 6 for a first acid pickling treatment to the treatingtub 14 for water washing treatment immediately before the electroplatingand an area from the water washing tub (not shown) after theelectroplating to an unload position. FIG. 7 shows the movement zones ofthe unit and collective conveyor means 25 and 33 by way of arrows,respectively. The movement zones of the unit and collective conveyormeans 25 and 33 are adapted to be overlapped in the section from thefirst acid pickling tub 6 to the water washing tub 14 and the sectionfrom the water washing tub after the electroplating treatment to theunload position.

As is shown in FIG. 4, the drive sprockets 30 mounted on the elevatorframes 26 have three kinds of diameters. The drive sprocket with asmallest diameter is employed at the part of each elevator frame 26corresponding to the section from the acid pickling tub 6 to the softetching tub 9, in which section the materials 15 are fed by a distanceapproximately equal to one another. The drive sprockets 30 with anintermediate diameter are employed at the part of each elevator frame 26corresponding to the section from the soft etching tub 9 to a firstwater spray washing tub 10 and the section from a second water spraywashing tub 11 to the acid pickling tub 12. The drive sprocket with alargest diameter is employed at the part of each elevator frame 26corresponding to the section from the water spray washing tub 10 toanother water spray washing tub 12. Such an arrangement of the drivesprockets 30 allows the feed pitches of the materials 15 to agree withone another in accordance with the length of each treating tub.

Each slide block 28 is provided with an arrangement pitch changing means34 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and not shown in FIG. 1 nor 4. Of the barsupports 29 mounted on each slide block 28, each central one is securedto each slide block 28. The other two supports 29 positioned on bothsides of the upper surface of each slide block 28 are movable along eachslide block 28 and usually urged by springs (not shown) so as to departfrom the central bar support. Reference numeral 35 indicates twoflexible wires. One end of one of the flexible wires 35 extends throughthe left and central bar supports and is fixed to the right bar support,as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. One end of the other flexible wire 35 extendsthrough the right and central bar supports and is fixed to the left barsupport, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The other ends of the wires 35 areguided by guide pulleys 36 into the slide blocks 28, wherein theflexible wires 35 are taken up by a take-up drum 37. The take-up drum 37is rotatably driven by an electric motor (not shown) so as to take upthe flexible wires 35. Thus, when the flexible wires 35 are taken up bythe take-up drum 37, the bar supports 29 positioned at both sides ofeach slide block 28 are moved so as to approach the central bar support29. When the take-up drum 37 is reverse rotated, the outer bar supports29 are moved so as to depart from the central bar support. Thearrangement pitch changing means 34 is employed for increasing thearrangement pitch of the untreated materials 15 conveyed to the waterspray washing tubs 10 and 11.

Operation of the apparatus of the first embodiment will now bedescribed.

1. Execution of all the treating steps:

A column (A) of FIG. 7 shows the conveying system and the treating stepsof the untreated materials 15. Each parenthesized numeral in a column ofthe treating steps in FIG. 7 indicates a treating period of timerequired for each treating step. Furthermore, in FIG. 7, each treatmentto be executed is indicated by a small circle. Each section in which theuntreated materials 15 are conveyed by the unit conveyor means 25 isindicated by broken line, and each section in which the untreatedmaterials 15 are conveyed by the collective conveyor means 33 isindicated by solid line. The unit conveyor means 25 is loaded with theuntreated materials 15 to be electroplated, and the materials 15 arefirst conveyed to the electrolytic degreasing tub 2. The untreatedmaterials 15 in every one treating step are sequentially conveyed by theunit conveyor means 25 to the acid pickling tub 6. Subsequently, theuntreated materials 15 in every one treating step are sequentiallyconveyed from the acid pickling tub 6 to the water washing tub 14 beforethe electroplating step by the collective conveyor means 33. Thematerials 15 are loaded again on the unit conveyor means 25 and passedto the electroplating tub. Subsequently, the materials 15 are conveyedby the collective conveyor means 33 from the water washing tub after theelectroplating step to the unload position.

2. The case where the electrolytic degreasing treatment is not executed:

Some materials 15 to be electroplated are not suitable for theelectrolytic degreasing. A column (B) of FIG. 7 shows the conveyancesystem for such materials 15. The materials 15 loaded on the unitconveyor means 25 passes the electrolytic degreasing tub 2 and waterwashing tubs 3-5 and are conveyed to the acid pickling tub 6.Subsequently, the materials 15 are conveyed to the unload position bythe collective conveyor means 33 in the same manner as above describedin paragraph 1.

3. The case where the first acid pickling and soft etching treatmentsare not executed:

A column (C) of FIG. 7 shows the conveyance system of this case. Thematerials 15 to be electroplated which are loaded on the unit conveyormeans 25 are conveyed to the electrolytic degreasing tub 2 and waterwashing tubs 3-5 in turn. Subsequently, the unit conveyor means 25loaded with the materials 15 passes the tubs 6-11 from the first acidpickling step to the second water spray washing step. Then, thecollective conveyor means 33 conveys the materials 15 from the acidpickling tub 12 to the water washing tubs 13 and 14. The materials 15are then conveyed to the electroplating tub by the unit conveyor means25 and then conveyed to the water washing tub and the unload position bythe collective conveyor means 33.

According to the apparatus of the first embodiment, parts of themovement zones of the unit and collective conveyor means 25 and 33 areoverlapped on the treatment line 1, as is obvious from the descriptionof operation of the apparatus. Consequently, the materials 15 may beconveyed reasonably both where all the treating steps are executed inturn and where some of the treating steps are skipped over or omitted.Furthermore, since the combination of the treating steps hasadaptability, different kinds of materials 15 requiring differentcombinations of treating steps may be conveyed along the treatmentline 1. Accordingly, the apparatus of the first embodiment is suitablefor production of a small quantity of many kinds of products. Moreover,since the materials 15 are conveyed on the collective conveyor means 33in the electroplating treatment which requires much time, theelectroplating tub need not be rendered large-scaled in accordance withthe electroplating period of time, thereby shortening the treatment line1.

Although the section where parts of the movement zones of the unit andcollective conveyor means 25 and 33 are overlapped extends over aplurality of treating tubs, the overlapped parts may extend over onlyone treating tub depending on the construction of the treatment line 1.Further, although the unit conveyor means 25 conveys the materials 15with three carrier bars 16 as a unit, the number of carrier bars 16 isnot limited to three. One or more carrier bars 16 may be employed.Additionally, although the drive sprockets 30 having diameters differentfrom one another are employed in the above-described embodiment so thatthe collective conveyor means 33 has different feed pitches in somepositions, the collective conveyor means 33 may be constructed as isshown in FIG. 8 as a second embodiment which will hereinafter bedescribed.

Referring now to FIG. 8 illustrating a modified form of the collectiveconveyor means 33, support plates 38 are secured to the underside ofeach elevator frame 26 so as to correspond to the respective slideblocks 28. Drive levers 39 are rotatably mounted on the support plates38, respectively. The upper end of each drive lever 39 is coupled toeach pin 28b projected on each slide block 28 through each elongatedslit 39a. The lower end of each drive lever 39 is coupled to a driveshaft 40 provided along the elevator frames 26 through each elongatedslit 39b. Supporting points on which the drive levers 39 are supportedon the support plate 38 having vertically different positions from oneanother depending on the feed pitches required. The drive shaft 40 isreciprocally moved in the horizontal direction, for example, by cylindermeans (not shown), thereby moving each slide block 28 by a distancedepending on the position of the supporting point of each drive lever39. The above-described construction permits the collective conveyormeans 33 to have different feed pitches, as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In the case where thefeed pitches of the collective conveyor means 33 need not be differentfrom one another at positions, a large number of bar supports 42 aresecured to the chain 41 extending over each elevator frame 26, and thechain 41 is moved by a predetermined momentum. Alternatively, when thefeed pitch of the collective conveyor means 33 thus takes apredetermined value, the bar supports 42 may be integrated with therespective elevator frames 26. In such a construction, when the elevatorframes 26 are to be lifted, they are moved by one feed pitch.Subsequently, the elevator frames 26 are moved to the initial positionsafter they are lowered with the carrier bars 16 received by the carrierbar insulators 17. This modified construction permits the elevatorframes 26 to be directly driven independently and to be moved togetherwith the lifting gear means 27.

Since each slide block 28 is provided with arrangement pitch changingmeans 34 in the foregoing embodiment, a suitable arrangement pitch ofthe materials 15 in accordance with treatment types may be ensured.However, even if the arrangement pitch changing means are not provided,the intended object may be achieved. Each arrangement pitch changingmeans 34 may not have a construction that the bar support 29 urged bythe spring is pulled by the flexible wires 35. A hydraulic drive system,cam drive system, or screw shaft system may be employed for thearrangment pitch changing means 34. Furthermore, the arrangement pitchchanging means 34 may not be provided on the slide blocks 28. They maybe mounted on the outer side of each elevator frame 26. Furthermore, thetravelling rails may not be disposed over the treating tubs. They may bedisposed at either side of the treating tubs or beneath them. Thus, thepresent invention should not be limited by the above-describedembodiments. The apparatus in accordance with this invention may beapplied to the conveying of workpieces in alumite treatment orelectrostatic coating.

As described above, the apparatus of the first to third embodiments arecharacterized in that the movement zones of the unit and collectiveconveyor means 25 and 33 are overlapped in part. Consequently, theconveyance efficiency may be improved and the treating steps may becombined with one another with ease. Furthermore, the treatment line 1may be shortened.

A fourth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10-19.Same parts as shown in FIGS. 1-6 are labelled by the identical numerals,and differences of the construction from those shown in FIGS. 1-6 willbe described. FIG. 19 illustrates an arrangement of the treating stepsfor which the apparatus of the fourth embodiment is employed. Themovable area of the unit conveyor means 25, that is, the area in whichthe travelling rails 18 are extended in the treatment line 1 covers awhole area of the treatment line 1. However, in the embodiment, theactual movement zone of the unit conveyor means 25 covers a section fromthe loading position to the water washing tub 3A through theelectrolytic degreasing tub 2A.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 12, the elevator frames 50 are provided atboth sides of the treating tubs 3A-13A outside the carrier barinsulators 17, respectively. The elevator frames 50 are lifted andlowered between the lower limit position shown by solid line in FIG. 10and the upper limit position shown by alternate long and two shortdashed line by lifting gear means (not shown) provided over thetreatment line 1.

A slide bar 52 is provided so as to be movable along the elevator frames50 and has approximately the same length as each elevator frame 50. Asshown in FIG. 13, a rack 52cis formed on the underside of the slide bar52, and a pinion 53 is provided so as to be in mesh engagement with therack 52c. The pinion 53 is rotatably driven by a drive means (notshown). Rotation of the pinion 53 causes the slide bar 52 toreciprocally move along the elevator frames 50. As shown in FIG. 11, theslide bar 52 has a generally L-shaped cross section. A plurality ofgroups of bar supports 54, each group comprising, for example, three barsupports, are provided on the upper face of the horizontal portion 52aof the slide bar 52, which portion serves to support the carrier bars16. See FIG. 13. The bar supports 54 of each group are so positioned asto correspond to the water washing tubs 3A, 4A, 6A, 7A, water spraywashing tubs 9A, 10A, and the water washing tubs 12A, 13A. Parts of thehorizontal portion of the slide bar 52 corresponding to the acidpickling tub 5A, soft etching tub 8A, and acid pickling tub 11Arespectively have been cut out to thereby form cutout portions 52b. Amovable plate 55 as a support section is provided in each cutout portion52b and mounted on hinges 55a so as to be rotatably movable between thehorizontal position shown by solid line in FIG. 14 and the verticalposition shown by alternate long and two short dashes line. Three barsupports 56 same as the bar supports 54 are provided on the upper faceof each movable plate 55. A generally L-shaped arm 58 having a weight 57at the distal end projects from the end of the movable plate 55 opposedto the hinge 55a. The collective conveyor means 59 thus comprises theelevator frames 50, lifting gear means 51, side bars 52, rack 52c,pinion 53, and their relative mechanism. In the condition that eachmovable plate 55 is set at the horizontal position, when the elevatorframes 50 are lifted from the lower limit position, both ends of all thecarrier bars 16 placed in the area where the slide bar 52 is disposed,that is, placed in the treating tubs 3A-13A are hooked by the horizontalportions 52a of the slide bars 52 and bar supports 54 of the movableplates 55, thereby lifting the carrier bars 16 and hence, the materials15 to be electroplated all together. On the other hand, when theelevator frames 50 are lifted with each movable plate 55 set at thevertical position, each movable plate 55 does not receive the carrierbars 16. Consequently, the carrier bars 16 placed in the acid picklingtub 5A, soft etching tub 8A, and acid pickling tub 11A are not hooked,while the carrier bars 16 placed in the water washing tubs are hooked bythe bar supports 54 to be fed to the subsequent treating steps.Accordingly, the horizontal position of each movable plate 55 will bereferred to as a support position at which the carrier bars 16 aresupported, while the vertical position thereof will be referred to as asupport evasion position at which the movable plates 55 do not receivethe carrier bars 16, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 14, a changeover means 60 is provided at theinside of the elevator frame 50 for changing the movable plate 55 fromthe support position to the support evasion position. Another chnageovermeans 61 is provided at the outside of the elevator frames 50 forchanging the elevator frames 50 from the support evasion position to thesupport position. The changeover means 60 and 61 have the sameconstruction, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Each of the changeover means60, 61 comprises a guide bar 62 supported at one end for verticallyrotatable movement and a solenoid 63 for rotatably moving the guide bar62 between the horizontal position thereof and the upwardly inclinedposition thereof as seen from the direction in which the slide bar 52returns after feeding the carrier bars 16 to the subsequent treatingsteps (that is, in the direction of arrow A). When the guide bar 62 ofthe changeover means 60 is moved to be inclined with each movable plate55 occupying the support position, an arm 58 is moved in the directionof arrow A with the horizontal portion thereof sliding on the guide bar62, when the slide bar 52 slides in the direction of arrow A. See FIG.16. Consequently, each movable plate 55 is moved upwardly and then movedto the support evasion position (shown by alternate long and two shortdashes line in FIG. 14) automatically owing to the weight 57. When theguide bar 62 of the changeover means 61 is moved to be inclined witheach movable plate 55 occupying the support evasion position, the arm 58is moved in the direction of arrow A with the horizontal portion thereofsliding on the guide bar 62 when the slide bar 52 slides in thedirection arrow A. Consequently, each movable plate 55 is moveddownwardly and then, further moved to the support position automaticallyowing to the weight 57.

Operation of the apparatus of the fourth embodiment will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 17(a) to 17(e) and 18(a) to18(eCrossed oblique lines in FIGS. 17(a) to 17(e) and 18(a) to 18(b)indicate the movable plate 55 occupying the support position and a blankthe movable plate 55 occupying the support evasion position. As shown inFIG. 19, the materials 15 are required to be immersed for 30 seconds,for example, in each of the electrolytic degreasing tub 2A, acidpickling tub 5A, soft etching tub 8A, and acid pickling tub 11A. On theother hand, the materials 15 are required to be immersed for only 15seconds in each of the water washing tubs 3A, 4A, 6A, 7A, 12A, 13A, andthe water spray washing tubs 9A, 10A.

As shown in FIG. 17(a), the materials 15 hung on the unit conveyor means25 are placed in the electrolytic degreasing tub 2A. The materials 15are further placed in the water washing tub 4A, acid pickling tub 5A,water washing tub 7A, soft etching tub 8A, water spray washing tub 10A,acid pickling tub 11A, and water washing tub 13A. Each movable plate 55is set at the support position. In this state of condition, when theelevator frames 55 are lifted from the lower limit position, both endsof all the carrier bars 16 placed in the water washing tubs 4A, 7A, 13A,acid pickling tubs 5A, 11A, soft etching tub 8A, and water spray washingtub 10A are hooked by the respective bar supports 54 and 56, therebylifting the carrier bars 16 and hence the materials 15 all together, asshown in FIG. 17(b). Subsequently, when the elevator frames 50 reach theupper limit position, the pinion 53 is rotatably driven in onedirection, whereby the slide bars 52 and hence the materials 15 are fedto the subsequent treating step sections, as shown in FIG. 17(c). Whenthe elevator frames 50 are lowered to the lower limit position, thecarrier bars 16 are received by the carrier bar insulators 17. As shownin FIG. 17(d), the materials 15 are placed in the treating tubs 5A, 6A,8A, 9A, 11A, 12A and electroplating tub 14A. Then, reverse rotatablemovement of the pinion 53 allows the slide bar 52 to return to theinitial position. In this case, since the solenoid of the changeovermeans 60 is activated to set the guide bar 62 at the inclined positionshown by alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 15, themovable plate 55 is moved from the support position to the supportevasion position in response to return movement of the slide bar 52, asshown in FIG. 17(e). The above-described movement of the collectiveconveyor means 59 will be referred to as a primary movement cycle. Inthe primary movement cycle, the materials 15 hung on the unit conveyormeans 25 are conveyed from the electrolytic degreasing tub 2A to thewater washing tub 3A. Subsequently, the unit conveyor means 25 is causedto return to the load position to immerse newly loaded materials 15 inthe electrolytic degreasing tub 2A. The materials 15 conveyed to theelectroplating tub 14A are conveyed by another conveyor (not shown) inturn.

When 15 seconds elapse after the materials 15 are placed in the treatingtubs 5A, 6A, 8A, 9A, 11A, and 12A, the elevator frames 50 are liftedfrom the lower limit

position in the same manner as described above, as shown in FIGS. 18(a)and 18(b). Since each movable plate 55 is then set at the supportevasion position, the carrier bars 16 placed in the acid pickling tubs5A, 11A and soft etching tub 8A are not hooked, while the carrier bars16 placed in the water washing tubs 3A, 6A, water spray washing tub 9A,water washing tub 12A are hooked by the respective bar supports 54,thereby lifting these carrier bars 16 and hence the materials 15 alltogether. Then, when the elevator frames 50 are lifted to the upperlimit position, the pinion 53 is rotatably driven in one direction. As aresult, the slide bars 52 and hence the materials 15 are fed to thesubsequent treating step sections, as shown in FIG. 18(c), and theelevator frames 50 are again lowered to the lower limit position so thatthe carrier bars 16 are received by the carrier bar insulators 17,thereby placing the materials 15 in the water washing tubs 4A, 7A, waterspray washing tub 10A, and water washing tub 13A, as shown in FIG 18(d). Subsequently, reverse rotatable movement of the pinion 53 allows eachslide bar 52 to return to the initial position. Since the guide bars 62of the changeover means 61 is set by the solenoid 53 to the inclinedposition shown by alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 16,each movable plate 55 is moved from the support evasion position to thesupport position in response to the return movement of the slide bar 52,as shown in FIG. 18(e). The above-described movement of the collectiveconveyor means 59 will be referred to as a secondary movement cycle. Thestate of condititon before starting the primary movement cycle is thusrevived and after the materials 15 are placed in the acid pickling tub5A, soft etching tub 8A, and acid pickling tub 11A for 30 seconds, theprimary movement cycle is executed. Then, the secondary and primarymovement cycles are reiteratively executed to perform treatment of thematerials 15.

According to the fourth embodiment, by setting each movable plate 55 atthe support position, the materials 15 placed in the acid pickling tub5A. soft etching tub 8A, and acid pickling tub 11A may be conveyed tothe subsequent treating step sections together with the materials 15placed in the water washing tubs 4A, 7A, water spray washing tub 10A,and water washing tub 13A. Further, by setting each movable plate 55 atthe support evasion position, only the materials 15 placed in the waterwashing tubs 3A, 6A, water spray washing tub 9A, and water washing tub12A may be conveyed to the subsequent treating step sections. The waterwashing treatment at each of the tubs 3A, 4A, 6A, 7A, 9A, 10A, 12A, and13A does not usually require a long period of time. The above-describedconstruction permits the treatment period of time at the water washingtubs to be reduced to the value approximately half as much as that ateach of the electrolytic degreasing tub 2A, acid pickling tub 5A, softetching tub 8A, and acid pickling tub 11A. Accordingly, although thewater washing treatment includes eight steps, these steps may becompleted for the period of time conveniently required for four steps ofwater washing treatment, thereby shortening the treatment period of timeas a whole. In the actual electroplating treatment line, theelectroplated materials necessitates to be further treated through manywater washing steps before being produced as final products. However,the treatment period of time may relatively be shortened with increaseof the water washing steps, thereby improving the treating efficiency.

The chnageover means for rotatably moving each movable plate 55 betweenthe support and support evasion positions is not limited to theabove-described construction. For example, a shaft may be employed forsupporting each movable plate 55 instead of the hinges, and the shaftmay be forward and reverse rotated by an electric motor so that themovable plates 55 are moved to the support or support evasion positionall together. Alternatively, a shaft may be provided in the vicinity ofthe movable plates 55 and connected to each movable plate 55 through aconnecting member so that the forward and reverse rotation of the shaftby the motor causes the connecting member to push and draw the movableplates 55, thereby rotatably moving the same to the support or supportevasion position. Furthermore, a pneumatic cylinder or the like may beemployed for pushing and drawing the movable plates 55. Furthermore, asshown in FIG. 20 as a fifth embodiment, an arc-shaped actuating member64 is rotatably mounted on the slide bar 52. The actuating member 64 isprovided so that the distal end thereof is brought into contact with anddeparts from the under face of each movable plate 55. Further, eachelevator frame 50 is provided with a support pin 65 which changes itsposition between upper and lower positions at every one cycle of theslide bar 52. In this construction, when the support pin 65 occupies theupper position shown by solid line in FIG. 20, the actuating member 64is moved in the direction of arrow A, sliding against the support pin 65when the slide bar 52 returns to its initial position, whereby theactuating member 64 engages the movable plate 55, which is rotatablymoved from the support position to the support evasion position shown byalternate long and two short dashes line. Subsequently, when theoperation cycle of of the slide bar 52 moves the support pin 65 to thelower position shown by alternate long and two short dashes line, theactuating member 64 is rotatably moved downwardly, departing from eachmovable plate 55, which then returns to the support position owing toits weight.

According to the fourth and fifth embodiments, the support portions ofthe collective conveyor means 33 corresponding to the treatment sectionsexcept the water washing sections are reciprocally movable between thesupport position at which the materials are supported and the supportevasion position at which support of the materials is evaded. As aresult, the materials at each treatment section may be conveyed alltogehter and the materials only at the water washing sections may beconveyed at every one operation cycle of the collective conveyor means.Consequently, the period of time for the water washing treatment usuallyrequirIng not so long a period may be shortened as compared with thetime period required at the other treatment sections, thereby shorteningthe whole treatment period of time and improving the treatingefficiency.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for conveying untreated materials,comprising:(a) a unit conveyor means (25) movably provided along atreatment line (1) including a plurality of treating sections arrangedin a row, said unit conveyor means (25) being moved from one of thetreating sections to another which may not be consecutive so that a unitof untreated materials (15) is lifted and lowered from and into thetreating section; and (b) a collective conveyor means (33) movableseparate from said unit conveyor means along the treatment line (1),said collective conveyor means (33) being moved so that the untreatedmaterials (15) located at a plurality of treating sections arecollectively lifted and lowered from and into said plurality of treatingsections to be conveyed to a plurality of subsequent treating sections,said collectively conveyor means (33) having a zone of movement thereofoverlapped with a zone of movement of said unit conveyor means (25) overa plurality of treating sections along said treating lines (1).
 2. Anapparatus for conveying untreated materials, as claimed in claim 1,wherein a feed pitch at which the untreated materials (15) are conveyedby said collective conveyor means (33) along the treatment line (1) isvaried in accordance with treatment contents performed in the treatingsections.
 3. An apparatus for conveying untreated materials, as claimedin claim 1, wherein said collective conveyor means (33) is provided witharrangement pitch changing means (34) for changing an arrangement pitchof the untreated materials (15).
 4. An apparatus for conveying untreatedmaterials, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unit conveyor means (25)comprises a carriage (19) operated to move along the treatment line (1)and carrier members (16) provided on said carriage (19) so as to bevertically moved so that the untreated materials (15) are lifted andlowered.
 5. An apparatus for conveying untreated materials, as claimedin claim 1, wherein said collective conveyor means (33) comprises frames(26) provided along the treatment line (1) over a plurality of treatingsections, lifting gear means (27) for vertically lifting said frames(26). and support members (28) provided on said frames (26) so as to bemoved along the treatment line (1). each said support member (28)supporting the untreated materials (15).